fiction – Page 9 – I Blame My Shelf

Around the World With Magical Realism: Asia

Well, this is it. We have come to the end of May which means we have come to the end of Magical Realism May Mondays. I hope you’ve enjoyed traveling around the world through books! For our final trip, we are heading to Asia. Asian magical realism uses magic and mysticism sparingly to tell seriesContinue reading “Around the World With Magical Realism: Asia”

Gold Diggers

In a sea of high achieving Indian American kids in Hammond Creek Georgia, Neil is average. He struggles to succeed at school and seems to be a constant disappointment to his family’s ambitions. Until he discovers his friend Anita’s plot to use an ancient potion made of stolen gold to steal the ambitions of theContinue reading “Gold Diggers”

Around the World With Magical Realism: Europe

Welcome back to Magical Realism May Mondays! We’re nearing the end of the month and we have just two more regions of the world to visit in our tour of magical realism. This week, we are heading to Europe. Magical realism from Europe draws heavily from fairytales and fables, including familiar magical elements to helpContinue reading “Around the World With Magical Realism: Europe”

Hench

Villains of the world rely on temp agencies to find henches to support their work. After being injured in an altercation with a superhero, Anna begins harnessing the power of spreadsheets to expose how the heroes of her world do more harm than good. Then, hired by an ultra-villain, she begins using her data analysisContinue reading “Hench”

Around the World With Magical Realism: Africa

And we’re back with another Magical Realism May Monday! This week, we are heading to Africa with some of my favorite stories. Magical Realism from Africa draws heavily from folklore, history, and mythology and often features spirits, demons, and animals-as-guides. If you love good storytelling and a balance of realism and mysticism, African magical realismContinue reading “Around the World With Magical Realism: Africa”

The Bone Maker

In a world where magic wielders, called bone makers, use animal bones to gain special powers, read the future, or animate lifeless objects, a group of aging heroes has a second chance to defeat dark magic and save the world. I am a huge fan of Sarah Beth Durst; she never disappoints me. Her world-buildingContinue reading “The Bone Maker”

Around the World with Magical Realism: North America

Welcome back to Magical Realism May Mondays! Last week, we explored magical realism from Latin America. This week, we’re heading up to North America. Magical realism from North America includes a broad variety of genres and themes, as diverse as the region itself. These books often use magical realism to feature themes of politics, history,Continue reading “Around the World with Magical Realism: North America”

On Fragile Waves

A family travels from war-torn Afghanistan through Indonesia and Nauru until finally arriving at what they believe is a new start in Australia. However, at every turn the family finds a government that is at best indifferent to their plight, and at worst unbelieving. Though they finally make it to a home in Australia, theirContinue reading “On Fragile Waves”

Around the World With Magical Realism: Latin America

Welcome to the magical month of May! Is May actually magical? Probably not, though seeing the sun for the first time in 9 months in Washington State might qualify as magic. This month, I’ve decided to go around the world with one of my favorite genres, magical realism. Magical realism provides a beautiful balance betweenContinue reading “Around the World With Magical Realism: Latin America”

The Frozen Crown

When a mad, magical emperor threatens her people, Askia is forced to flee her frozen kingdom and seek assistance from the southern kingdom of Vishir. But, as soon as she arrives in Vishir, she becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of political scheming that will test her ability as a leader and potentially expose a secretContinue reading “The Frozen Crown”